Mood:  incredulous

Although I wasn't fortunate to witness this amazing event... I had to share the following message by one of the Whalers because seeing a Humpback whale during our season is not common!  Enjoy.  

"We saw a megapod of common dolphins - always a delight.  Then in the distance a few passengers spotted a blow towards the Los Coronados Islands.  Captain Jeff headed that way and we were rewarded with the sight of 2 humpback whales.  We saw multiple views of blows and flukes and a breach, tail slap along with rolling and beautiful views of those large fins.  Everyone on the cruise (looked like almost a full boatload) got a good view of these wonderful whales."  12/29/08 pm cruise

Posted by Leslie at 7:00 PM PST

Updated: Wednesday, 12/31/2008 7:30 PM PST

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Mood:  surprised

This morning's cruise was spectacular!  Not only was it a beautiful day out on the Pacific ocean, but we got to see the 1st breach of the season!   We sighted 2 adult gray whales...  which seemed quite comfortable being around the boats - snorkeling & fluking...   

As we were headed toward Point Loma, one of the whales BREACHED!  Not just one breach though-  4 breaches!   Incredible- I was so excited!! 

- I met some nice people...  including a family visiting from London, England and another family from Miami, Florida.  

Posted by Leslie at 3:03 PM PST

Updated: Sunday, 12/28/2008 3:20 PM PST

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Mood:  lucky

I spent the afternoon on the 2nd cruise of the '08-09 season...  and we were blessed with a sighting of a gray whale!

As you can see, the ocean & weather was kind to us... 

Posted by Leslie at 9:00 PM PST

Updated: Wednesday, 12/24/2008 9:45 PM PST

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Mood:  happy

Ok, so I missed an entire season of blogging. Oh my!  Apologies!

I promise to do better during the 2008-09 season.  Speaking of which- the first whale cruise is December 20th.   That doesn't mean, though- that I won't be able to see whales prior to that.  I just came back from a walk to the cove in Solana Beach.  From shore I spotted a female gray whale with a calf!   I quickly walked home and grabbed my binoculars and was able to find them again & got a closer look.  The calf fluked!  

As you can imagine, I was excited!   

Posted by Leslie at 4:13 PM PST

Updated: Thursday, 11/27/2008 4:23 PM PST

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Mood:  special

The 2007 Whale Watch season begins on December 15th!  I've been attending the volunteer training and have gotten a chance to meet the new "Whalers".  I have a feeling it is going to be another FUN season. 

I'm looking forward to sharing the excitement and wonder of the sightings with everyone.   
  

Posted by Leslie at 1:36 PM PST

Updated: Saturday, 11/17/2007 1:44 PM PST

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Mood:  incredulous

Today was the last day of the whale watch season with Hornblower... I wish all the gray whales a safe journey to the cold waters of the Bering & Chukchi seas - and patiently wait for their next journey south past San Diego.   It was a wonderful season - filled with alot of excitement- great display of whales, dolphins and sea lions! 

Besides the large number of calves seen during their southern migration- the other special events were seeing ALOT of Rissos dolphins.  Last season few were seen- this season --> too many to count!  The most unique sightings were the 2 gray whales with white flukes!  

I was fortunate to go out on the Adventure Hornblower on 31 Cruises!  It's been fun- and I hope you've enjoyed my blog entries!

Posted by Leslie at 5:02 PM PDT

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Mood:  special

I had someone add a comment to one of the whale polls.. and had to share since it happened during this season's gray whale migration! 

"I was surfing at Sunset Beach in California & a Gray Whale passed right by me, about 20 ft away.
They are amazing creatures!!" 

Posted by Leslie at 8:00 PM PDT

Updated: Sunday, 04/15/2007 5:00 PM PDT

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Mood:  lucky

Happy St. Patty's Day!

It's getting to be late in the season; so I took advantage of this day and spent it on the boat!  The weather was not ideal for whale sightings, but I was determined to find a whale! 

During the AM cruise, we were blessed with the sighting of RISSOS dolphins - majestic and fun to watch!  There were about 30 in the group.  The passengers were thrilled and I reminded them that this IS a special treat. 

We had better luck on the PM cruise... not only did we see a group of ~50 RISSOS- putting on a spectacular show, but on the way back to the bay (southbound along the Kelp Beds), Capt Jeff *finally* spotted a blow.  It turned out to be a Female/Calf pair.  Then, a 3rd (adult) whale showed itself.  I wish we could have stayed longer; but the boat had to return to dock...   

Posted by Leslie at 9:00 PM PDT

Updated: Sunday, 03/18/2007 9:51 PM PDT

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Mood:  special

From the Whaler Sightings log....  had to share!  AM cruise: "Ok, we have this one on video -- 3 miles of dolphins!  About a football field in width- awesome! Plus- the most unusual whale sighting - a juvenile gray whale lingering amongst the dolphins, floating on its' back - just below the surface; rolling around.  It held the front half of its' head above the surface for a bit.  Small blow then a shallow dive.  Incredible view of the whale just below the surface.  Appeared to be ok; enjoying being w/ the dolphins! 

...  On the way back in we saw the 'tsunami' wall of dolphins.  Also large herds of sea lions.  OH Oh -Saw a gray in the bay!  We saw just the arch, knuckles of the whale (by the 2nd marker along John Wayne's jetty).  WOW - This was a news worthy & eventful morning!"

PM Cruise:

"Spotted the "Bay Gray" again by the Jetty, on the way out of the bay.  8 miles out- we saw a group of 25-30 Rissos  with a pair of bottlenose (w/ smaller calf) intermingling with the Rissos.  2 Rissos leaped out and slapped the water with their heads. 

On approach @ about 400 yds we saw blows & then a total of 12 breaches!  Turned out to be a group of 9 adult Gray whales!  They were very relaxed with us - parallel swim for approx. 40 minutes. Lots of blows with rainbows misting out to sea.  One very large adult came near the boat to 'check us out'. Gentle giants cruising Northbound @ about 10-11 miles out.  Saw one solo whale on the way back in" (excerpt from the Whaler Sightings log)

Posted by Leslie at 9:00 PM PDT

Updated: Sunday, 03/18/2007 9:39 PM PDT

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Mood:  happy

I know ... it's been awhile.  I am going out on the boat each week..  but with work, I have little time to 'play' on the computer.  

 ...  This afternoon was beautiful!  We're getting the warm Santa Ana winds and plenty of sunshine.   The Adventure headed out of the bay due West - in search of the Northbound Gray whales.   It's that time in the season...

We found dolphins everywhere- in every direction!  Pacific White Sided & commons.   We even saw a couple of sea lions hanging out with their flippers in the air!

THEN..  something wonderful appeared ... a *large* group of Rissos dolphins!  This is a special treat and I was thrilled!  Everyone got a great view- as the dolphins were surrounding the boat on both sides.  The glow of their white bodies underneath the water was beautiful.  A few were playful- jumping & breaching out of the water.

On the way back into the bay, we spent a short time with 2 whales- which appeared to be a female with her calf.  She probably had ONE thing on her mind....   Arctic Sea --> food --> gotta head north... 

Posted by Leslie at 9:26 PM PST

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